Receive the latest national-international updates in your inbox

New Details From Pilot One Day After Half Moon Bay Crash

One day after crash landing his newly purchased plane in the ocean off Half Moon Bay and recording his own rescue, the pilot offered new details and answered critics who say this was all a stunt. Marianne Favro reports. (Published Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019)

Emergency crews Tuesday evening responded to a small plane crash in the water off Half Moon Bay, and both occupants of the aircraft were rescued, the U.S Coast Guard said.

On Wednesday, pilot David Lesh of Denver offered new details about the crash landing and answered critics who believe the entire incident was a stunt.

A friend of the pilot, Owen Leipelt, was also flying and was able to capture video and photos of the crash and aftermath from the air. He kept circling the crash scene and radioed air traffic control without knowing his friends were unhurt.

"Your heart sinks when you hear, 'Mayday, I have no power.' It's something you don't want to hear, and it takes a second to kick in," Leipelt said. And when Lesh called him 10 minutes later: "I have never been so relieved in my life to hear him on the phone."

The plane took off out of Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose and was flying over Half Moon Bay for a mid-air photo shoot of Lesh's plane when the aircraft lost power.

Lesh said Wednesday he believes the plane lost power because of an issue with the quality of the gas. And when asked about those screaming hoax, Lesh admitted he's done some provocative things before, but said it was not a stunt.

"Consider the fact I spent a quarter-million dollars on that plane and then took two months to upgrade it," he said. "That's my baby. I had no interest in ruining my new airplane and putting it in the ocean."

The Coast Guard's rescue helicopter happened to be in the area on a training run.

"I was probably 3,400 feet, did everything I could," he said. "Couldn't get the motor running and put it into the Pacific."

Lesh said he and his companion were not hurt from the crash but were stung by jellyfish, and he was hypothermic. He was garteful for the Coast Guard's quick response, saying if they didn't arrive when they did, he may not have made it.

The FAA and NTSB will investigate the crash, but because the plane sank investigators will have to rely on air traffic information, radar and interviews with Lesh to try to determine what happened.

Unbelievable video from pilot David Lesh, of the moment they see @USCGPacificSW come in for the rescue. His friend was flying near them when they crashed, circled around, and was able to guide USCG to their location. pic.twitter.com/SPdsuJpLpY

BREAKING: Just spoke with pilot who crashed small plane into ocean outside of Half Moon Bay. He and his friend are physically ok. He snapped photos during the rescue. His friend was flying nearby and took the picture on the right. (📷Chris Leipelt) pic.twitter.com/r9IXVJIFJe